Animals and Their Homes

Fine project for language stimulation, reasoning, learning to ask and answer questions. Can also accommodate kids with minimal language.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 can classify and organize objects according to use and gives a reason such as a barn can protect and keep him warm Lang. IIA
ages 3-4 can group consistently by one attribute and is able to tell why
ages 2 can name some pictures of common objects Lang. IB
and they can after identification they can point to correct picture in a group Lang. IA

 
 
 

Materials

Three or more pairs of animals and their homes' pictures (bird/nest, horse/barn, frog/pond, dog/dog house, etc.); game card or felt board divided into six spaces; police officer's hat.
See Illustration.

Procedures

1. Ask each child where (s)he lives. Discuss different kinds of homes. Some people live in houses, apartments, tents, trailers, huts, etc. Homes come in different sizes and shapes.

2. Show each of the animal-and-home pictures and have it identified. Tell the children that they are going to take turns being a police officer. "A police officer can help you when you are lost." Appoint a child to be the officer and wear the hat. Arrange the game card like this: (sketch).

3. Have the children repeat with you, "Who is lost, police officer?" After the officer identifies the frog as being lost, ask, "Where does it live, officer?"

Give clues if necessary. When the pond is guessed, place it on the board for all to see. Ask, "Why is a pond a good home for a frog?" Remove the six pictures and have the police officer choose someone to take his place.

4. In a different order, place three animal pictures on the top row of the board and place only two pictures of homes below. Following the same procedure as above, have the one who is lost identified and then identify its home.

5. After each child has had a turn being officer, discuss the possibilities of each creature being returned to the wrong home and the advantages and disadvantages of this situation, e.g., horse to pond. Place animal cards and home cards in two piles in the middle of table. Taking turns, have each child choose a creature and a "funny home." Have child tell why his animal would like (and then not like) this home. The teacher may give clues if necessary.

 
 

Variations:

1. 1. Parent and baby animals.

2. 2. Community workers and the tools of their trades. (60-72 mo.)

3. 3. Buy or make puzzle pieces matching animals to their homes – this is for children to do individually.

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